SOCHI, Russia—On Friday night, Russian President
Vladimir Putin
will entertain world leaders at a reception under soaring, Corinthian-style columns and a giant, sparkling chandelier in the Atrium ballroom of the Stalin-era Rus Sanatorium.

It will be one of the most exclusive events of the Winter Olympics here, but Mr. Putin's guest list has some big gaps. Few of the Western world's most prominent leaders will be there, declining entreaties to attend, according to diplomats and government officials.

Instead, Russia's president will be surrounded by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko. North Korea is sending its second-highest official, even though the country has no athletes competing at the Sochi Games.

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All is not quite right in Sochi on the eve of the opening ceremony for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Walkways remain unpaved, stray dogs roam the street and security concerns remain. WSJ's Dipti Kapadia reports.

WSJ's Anton Troianovski was in Sochi in 2008 to write about the city's Olympics-inspired real-estate boom. More than five years later, he's back in town to cover the Winter Olympics.

The 61-year-old Mr. Putin landed the first Winter Olympics ever hosted by Russia in 2007 with a charm offensive that included wowing International Olympic Committee officials at a meeting in Guatemala City with a speech in English and French, the two official languages of the Olympics.

But the lack of top U.S. and European officials at Mr. Putin's fancy reception and the 17-day Sochi Games shows hostility to the new political creed Mr. Putin has pursued since his return to the Kremlin in 2012. In his third term as president, the former KGB officer has crusaded against Western influence throughout the world and emphasized Russia's "traditional values," a contrast to his earlier efforts to draw Russia closer to the U.S. and Europe.

In foreign policy, the move has shaped the Kremlin's resistance to Western efforts to use human-rights violations as justification for intervention in Syria's civil war and other conflicts. Mr. Putin's ability to help stave off U.S. strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime last fall was a triumph for Moscow, reining in Washington and protecting authoritarian allies.

"The Sochi Olympics are a litmus test of attitudes to Russia as a whole," wrote Vladimir Yakunin, an ally of Mr. Putin who is president of Russian Railways, in a blog post Thursday. The state-owned company built or worked on numerous Olympics projects in Sochi. "Like it or not, the parallel to 1980, when Western leaders boycotted the Moscow Olympics, suggests itself."

ENLARGE

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov disagreed Thursday that world leaders are avoiding Sochi. "We will have 44 heads of state at the opening ceremonies alone and 60 during the Games," he told reporters.

"So do your own count and draw your own conclusions," Mr. Lavrov said.

Still, Friday's opening ceremony will highlight the cultural shift that has surprised and worried Western officials. Most of the ceremony will focus on Russian history, with floating church domes inside newly built Fisht Olympic Stadium and glowing, magic horses in the sky, people familiar with the plans say.

A Russian female pop-music duo, t.A.T.u., that skyrocketed up the charts in Russia, Europe and the U.S. during Mr. Putin's early years in power with kissing and lyrics heavy with lesbian innuendo probably will perform only at a warm-up show that won't be broadcast internationally, these people say.

T.A.T.u.'s edgy appeal is on the wrong side of the controversial new "gay propaganda" law that is the legislative signature of Mr. Putin's recent turn toward traditionalism.

Mr. Putin has had to offer reassurances that gays are welcome in Sochi, while defending the law as a reflection of Russia's values. Officials have indicated that Sochi will be largely exempt from the law during the Games.

Other Olympic symbols of Mr. Putin's intensified focus on "traditional values" include a Russian Orthodox Church cathedral built adjacent to the Olympic Park grounds here. On Wednesday, Russia's athletes gathered for a blessing led by Patriarch Kirill, head of the church and a frequent adviser to Mr. Putin.

Last summer, the church leader called gay marriage a "sign of the apocalypse," and he has been one of the most vocal advocates of the Kremlin's new morality drive. At the Olympic blessing, some female athletes wore their red winter ski hats instead of the head scarves that women traditionally put on in Russian Orthodox churches.

For Mr. Putin, the Olympics are a chance to demonstrate Russia's return to global prominence and transformation into a modern country under his rule. The Sochi Games are as much about Mr. Putin's push to rebuild Russian pride as bringing home gold medals.

Yet the initial reaction of some visitors arriving in Sochi this week is falling far short of Mr. Putin's grand ambitions. Instead of marveling at the $9 billion railway link between Olympic venues on the Black Sea and nearby mountains, for example, journalists have criticized rooms without doorknobs and hot water. Local officials are on the defensive about their efforts to round up and exterminate a large population of stray dogs. Many areas still look like a construction site, with mounds of mud or dirt and little landscaping.

Dmitry Kozak, the deputy prime minister responsible for Olympic preparations, said Thursday that the complaints amount to "small imperfections in the Olympic facilities and tourist infrastructure."

The wider changes by Mr. Putin during the past two years have brought criticism of the IOC for its decision to award the 2014 Winter Olympics to Russia and pressure on international Olympic sponsors, many of which seem to be keeping an unusually low profile in Sochi compared with past Games. Olympic officials say awarding the event to Sochi wasn't a mistake. They deny that the Sochi Games represent an endorsement of the Russian president's policies.

"Do you think people would have known much about this law had it not been for the Games? I doubt it," says Anita DeFrantz, the U.S. representative on the IOC's executive board. "The lesson is: Whatever you are doing, the world will know about it if you are hosting the Games. So do good."

Kremlin officials dismiss foreign criticism of their recent policies, saying it is based on misunderstandings. The controversy is part of a deliberate Western campaign to sully Russia's return to international prominence, some Kremlin officials complain, much as protests over alleged Chinese oppression in Tibet hit the torch relay before the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

At first, Mr. Putin's turn was seen as a political tactic to isolate critics in Russia's urban middle class who protested his return to the presidency in 2012. The traditional-values rhetoric shored up Mr. Putin's support in his core base of older, less-educated Russians who don't live in the country's biggest cities.

His anti-Western comments also helped parry mounting criticism by U.S. and European officials of the Russian president's crackdown on political opponents during the past two years.

The moves show no sign of letting up, leading many Kremlin insiders to suggest that Mr. Putin is undergoing a deeper ideological shift. "The leadership is convinced that the West understands only the language of strength," one Kremlin adviser says. "There's no point in making the West try to like us."

In 2007, Russia's booming oil wealth was fueling a more assertive Mr. Putin, but he actively sought to prevent major rifts with U.S. and European governments. Before his July 2007 trip to Guatemala to woo Olympic officials, Mr. Putin stopped for an informal summit with U.S. President George W. Bush in Kennebunkport, Maine. Mr. Putin ate lobster and rode on the Bush family speedboat. Mr. Putin hasn't been back to the U.S. since then.

In his annual address to Russia's Parliament in 2007, Mr. Putin made fun of previous efforts to invent a "national idea" that would replace the Communist ideology of the Soviet era. His main focus: boosting living standards.

Traditional-values issues like homosexuality got no traction. "This theme didn't even exist," says Gleb Pavlovsky, a political consultant who worked with the Kremlin at the time. "If we'd brought it up, they would have laughed at us."

Anti-Western rhetoric came and went but wasn't part of a broader ideology. When Dmitry Medvedev became president in 2008, essentially filling in for Mr. Putin because of limits on consecutive terms in office, Mr. Medvedev couldn't hide his enthusiasm for Western gadgets like the iPhone.

The atmosphere changed dramatically when Mr. Putin announced in late 2011 that he would return for a third presidential term. In protest, tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the wintry streets of Moscow in the biggest public outpouring of anti-Kremlin feeling since Mr. Putin took office in 2000.

"That was a shock for Putin," says Mr. Pavlovsky. Even top-level insiders began wondering if Mr. Putin's political magic was fading. In response, he accused the U.S. government of inciting the protests. The Kremlin began a crackdown on Western-funded nongovernmental organizations, forcing some prominent U.S. and European-backed programs to shut down.

To counter middle-class Muscovites who protested against him, Mr. Putin marshaled the support of his core electorate in the Russian heartland with promises to protect traditional values.

In 2012, authorities charged members of Russian punk band Pussy Riot with hooliganism after they entered Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral and acted out a brief performance critical of the Kremlin in front of parishioners. (In December, two band members were released from prison as part of an amnesty viewed as a Kremlin effort to resolve some high-profile headaches before the Sochi Games.)

"Attempts to influence the world view of whole peoples, striving to subjugate them, to impose a system of values and concepts are an absolute reality," he told a group of pro-Kremlin civic activists at a gathering about the "patriotic upbringing of youth."

Shortly after his inauguration in May 2012, Mr. Putin shocked the White House by refusing to attend a Group of Eight summit at Camp David. It was the first time a Russian leader had ever boycotted the gathering of top nations. In 2006, Mr. Putin hosted Russia's first G-8 meeting after the country became a full member of the group of leading nations.

As the traditional-values push gained momentum, members of the ruling United Russia party joined the campaign. The party's agenda is tightly controlled by Mr. Putin and his managers in the Kremlin.

Versions of the "gay propaganda" law had passed in a few regions of Russia but attracted little nationwide attention. The measure suddenly won United Russia's support in Parliament and became the law of the land in June 2013.

Mr. Putin also embraced a new ban on adoptions of Russian children by Americans. Still, many insiders and analysts assumed the push was another tactical move by the Kremlin aimed at marginalizing Mr. Putin's opponents and crushing any doubts about his political staying power.

"It's just a zigzag," one former top Kremlin official said at the time.

Kremlin officials hint privately that the Russian president still could turn on his old charm toward the West if he is offered enough enticements in return. Other people close to Mr. Putin believe his shift is a genuine reversal from longtime efforts to publicly play down his religious beliefs.

Some members of the ruling elite are starting to raise concerns about the costs of Mr. Putin's strategy. Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said late last year that tensions over gay rights and other moral issues were deterring much-needed foreign investment. "The political climate shouldn't influence investment," Mr. Shuvalov said.

In a rare breach of ruling-party discipline, a Mariinsky Theatre opera soloist and Parliament member said at a public meeting that the "gay propaganda" law is having "extremely negative consequences," including a rise in hate crimes and ostracism of prominent Russians abroad.

"I am very sad to see that the Olympic Games in Sochi for which we have so long and anxiously prepared will come to pass with less brilliance and passion because of this unfortunate initiative that was so hastily—and I believe without thoughtful discussion—adopted by Parliament," the singer and politician, Maria Maksakova, said in December.

Her stunned colleagues didn't respond, moving on to the next item on their agenda. Ms. Maksakova hasn't voiced her concerns as openly since then.

I can only marvel at how facile and senseless this article is. It shows no respect for or understanding of a culture and country that - OMG - is not a clone of the US or other Western nations. Am I to be shocked that stray and possibly feral dogs were rounded up and probably euthanized in preparation for the Olympics. Should I be morally outraged that P#ssy Riot was prosecuted and convicted for trespassing in a major Orthodox Cathedral to make a political statement in a manner highly offensive to that Church? Am I to overlook the massive effort and achievements in preparing Sochi for this major event because everything was not completed - with OMG - doorknobs and furniture missing from some hotel rooms? Is the US to dictate how this conservative and religious country attempts to minimize pubic displays of gay literature or gay culture? Is there something wrong with Putin doing his best, Russian style, to rebuild his country and its pride? OMG - there were demonstrations against him! It does not seem his response was as harsh as the response in the US to the Occupy movement, antiglobalization protests, and so many other protests that resulted in injuries, arrests, tear gassing, rubber bullets, etc. etc. And oh, what about the hero who exposed NSA abuses and had to leave the country or face the Bradley Manning treatment - application of the "law" to crush and jail these American heroes - but they are not P#ssy Riot! Reading this and the many other articles dumping on Russia in connection with the olympics leads me to suspect the media has an agenda to trash Russia. I've never once seen a reference to Russia losing 27 million lives to Nazi Germany when it is criticized for wanting to control the countries on its borders. (I believe the US sacrificed around 280 thousand troops and of course it was not invaded by Germany! But Israel can run roughshod over the Palestinians, who, guess what, did not run the concentration camps. This article represents one of the worst examples of US cultural supremacy - the American Jihad, that I have read, today.

“…the former KGB officer has crusaded against Western influence throughout the world and emphasized Russia's "traditional values," a contrast to his earlier efforts to draw Russia closer to the U.S…”Greg & Paul; The intended slight of Putin’s being a supra-qualified leader who headed Russia’s intelligence agency is wasted upon informed readers knowledge that our George H Bush was head of our CIA…Pleased to report; viewership of Sochi outdistanced the Super Bowl by a factor of 10x. Embarrassed by this contrast of an operatic, symphonic display of national pride to our past-their-expiration-date Peppers and who is the Bruno Asteroid guy? Glad more of the world did not witness the obvious decline of our debased, and declining, empire.

Well yes....and then there's Irina and her racist tweet. My my…..what a surprise….a hideous racist slur from a diplomat with an IQ of about 10 and the maturity of a 12 year old….just what we should expect from Putin’s 3rd rate country. Where did they ever find that little inbred thug and pervert Putin anyway? I’m nearly certain he was pulled right off the hillbilly cabin porch in the movie Deliverance – or the Russian equivalent thereof – and put into power. And how absurd that appeal to the terrorists in the opening ceremony to use “the political process” instead of violence. Seriouly? I mean Seriously? Which so called “political process” would that be? Oh…why the one that Putin and his oligarch cronies use to thieve, murder, and jail their way to power and grotesque wealth - leaving the mass of their citizens to lives of abject poverty and despair. Small wonder drug addiction, sex slavery, alcoholism, and mafia criminals are so pervasive there. The big surprise to me is that from the midst of all that depravity they still managed a decent opening ceremony to the Olympics. Except for being marred by the presence of that little sociopath President and his gargoyle mascot Irina, I thought it was pretty well done. Lol...ha ha. Free speech. I mean really Irina?

"...Russia's president will be surrounded by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko. North Korea is sending its second-highest official, even though the country has no athletes competing at the Sochi Games."

well, at least bashar al-assad did not attend.

"In foreign policy, [a more independent and defiant attitude] has shaped the Kremlin's resistance to Western efforts to use human-rights violations as justification for intervention in Syria's civil war and other conflicts. Mr. Putin's ability to help stave off U.S. strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime last fall was a triumph for Moscow, reining in Washington...."

In the article about the Olympics there are some comments not about homosexuaIs? Wow! This radically changes the situation!

"...Our Comrade has a big need to insult others. Why does he call homosexuaIs "perverts"?..."

Sometimes, do not need to specifically try to insult someone. Simple enough call a spade a spade:- HomosexuaIs - perverts.- The place where perverts are considered normal people - Sodom and Gomorrah.All these things there are in Scripture. But even if you are an atheist, there are many of the medical literature on this topic. Why do I have to explain the obvious?And ... I am not Your Comrade!

"...Why does he call homosexuals "perverts"? Could it be that he is trying to repress feelings that come to him at night?..."

Oh, Alex, you've see through me! I lead a double life in a secret from my young wife and two children.

P.S. In fact, I don't care what the_fags are doing, if they doing it in their homes, do not violate the law and do not shout about it at every corner.

I would have recommended Mr. Barinov's PS, if he did not call homosexuals "fa.gs". I read that there is no logic to sexual tastes. As for anyone advertising his tastes or preferences, I find it highly improper.

I call Mr. Barinov Comrade when he a displays Communist style of thinking. For his last post I call him Mister.

Call him as you want (Herr, Pan, Lord, Sir, Mister, Master... as you used... I do not know....) but only except all terms denoting friendship! Ok?Communist style of thinking? Hmmm ))) No! This is style of thinking of normal man. Pity that poor Alex, living in "Sodom and Gomorrah", have already ceased to realize it.

1) The correct course ! USA committed so many crimes in a very short period of history! And now, to distract attention from this crimes you should continuously and loudly scream about someone else's crimes. Even if these crimes don't exists. But it does not matter, because otherwise the U.S. will look very unsightly.

2) One_moron here was trying to persuade me that Stalin killed 60 million people. But however when speech has come about specific numbers and sources of information, he could not explain me: why the quantity of killed by Stalin exceeded the number of births, and at the same time population of the USSR was growing by 2, 3 million per year. Alex, do you want to pass this way, too?

3) My advice to you: leave these stories for impressionable oligophrenics who even can not use a calculator, not for me.

The most horrible aspect of the Olympics is NBC, the network of Hate and bitterness trying to push its values on those who didn't ask for them. All the whining and silly comments are a disgusting and poor representation of America.

I have learned from this display of cry baby NBC lightweights that although they aspire for the US to be the next great Socialist Superpower, these girlyboys couldn't ever become the type of communists they dream of simply because of their thin skins. So delicate and easily offended. Sad!!!

I am nicely enjoying my WSJ subscription Blow(hard). Maybe someday you too can scratch some of your own money together to get a subscription. Obama include WSJ in your bennie package since it doesn't exactly cater to his tin horn messaging.

It appears that our tea party brethren are in fact commie sympathizers, and admirers of the stone-cold KGB killer and president-for-life converting Russia back into an old-style Soviet centralized economy.

Elsewhere in todays paper, an overview of the man so many here admire:

"[Putin's] permanence in power was underlined during the shell game of 2008. Having exhausted his constitutional two terms, he set up his handpicked factotum as president and then continued to rule as prime minister. In 2012, he resumed the presidency under a new law that will allow him to serve 12 years, so Russia can expect to be stuck with Mr. Putin at least until 2024. Perhaps longer given the still-unexplained string of murderous apartment bombings that aided his rise."

I had to wait years to get my breast implants because the American health care system refused to cover the cost of the procedure. That is an injustice. I was denied my right to health care and my right to be who I am. I was told I was "male".

President Obama is working to make sure that will not happen to people in the future. He is the opposite of Putin. Americans are very close to having access to health care regardless of their gender-status, racial-status or their sexual-status. We cannot allow people of hate, the religious, the Republicans or Conservatives or any non-progressive person to deny us our rights. Gender-reassignment surgery is a right and is necessary for a progressive society to provide to all people.

This is not about stopping the Olympics. This is about protecting and defending human rights. Tolerance and diversity and health care are basic human rights.

Lara you've got bigger issues than the need for taxpayer Teetons, gender, or whatever. Based on your comments, something is very imbalanced. I first thought that you were a troll trying to stoke up readership here, but now I suspect you are very troubled. What else is there to say!

Mr. Spenzak, why don't you get on a plane and travel to Russia to protest? Please feel free to explain to them what a difficult time you had in getting artificial implants to live your artificial life.

Poor Comrade Barinov! He suffers from his usual afflictions. He reads with one eye only, the one that sees bad things said about Russia only. For example he missed the post of Mr. Lenihan.

If this was all, I would feel sorry for Comrade Barinov, on account of his ophtalmological problem. Anyone can have bad eyes, right?

But there is more. Our Comrade has a big need to insult others. Why does he call homosexuals "perverts"?Could it be that he is trying to repress feelings that come to him at night? Perhaps during the day, too? Who knows?

1. Guess what.....LBGT rights is not at the top of the agenda for the rest of the world. It may be an issue...it may be evolving....but to write like this is immature in the extreme....and worse.2. I suspect President Putin is presiding over the opening of the Olympics with pride....just like any other leader of any other country acting as host.3. It wasn't so long ago that homosexuality was illegal in the US. Thankfully we have evolved. Others will do so...in their own time and with due respect to their history and culture...just like us. It is not our place to put sticks in peoples eyes to get them to see our point of view. Some might view it as classless.

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